YouTube, Google, and Rumors vs. Truth in the Blogosphere

Mark Cuban posted an interesting theory about the YouTube/Google deal from an “anonymous author.” The self-described “experienced veteran in the digital media business” characterizes the theory like this:

Some of this is based on talks with people involved and some is speculation based on my experience working in the industry, negotiating settlements and battling in court.

I call it a theory because it’s completely uncorroborated. Unfortunately, the blogosphere is treating it as if it were true (despite passing nods to the lack of corroboration). I can appreciate the impulse to treat the story as fact — it’s filled with salacious details of conspiring with the music industry to sue competitors and deny artists fair compensation from settlements.

As Dan Blank and Mathew Ingram point out, it doesn’t matter that the theory “rings true” — it could all be entirely made up.

The blogosphere is a tremendous force for spreading rumors and, in some cases, disinformation — this story’s “truth” or lack thereof may well be surfaced by the blogosphere as well, given the countervailing force of self-correction.

I won’t get into the whole blogging vs/is journalism debate — let’s just leave it at this: please make sure to blog responsibly.